Looks like we might possibly be losing AMC, IFC, & WE.

[mermavis]

I am outraged that AMC, IFC and WE TV (Rainbow Package) may no longer be available for the millions of viewers that enjoy and depend on the quality programming these networks offer.  If in fact you discontinue my ability to enjoy the programs offered I promise to discontinue my ATT cellular service and will boycott any ATT products.  Further, I will review my stock portfolio, should I have any holdings I will immediately sell them even at a loss.  I will switch my cable service to Satellite Television, even though I hate the look of the hideous dishes, but a small price to pay to take money out of your despicable pockets. 

In conclusion, I will be contacting my attorney, whom is on retainer, and I will sue you for taking the "Rainbow Package" off the air.  This was a package I explicitly asked for when ordering my cable service.  How dare you think you can simply remove these stations off the air without sufficient notice.  On Monday, I will make it my mission to contact every avenue I have at my disposal and put a stop to your despicable attempts to take these quality stations away from intelligent people such as myself.  Shame on you!!  Additionally, what is your motive behind your actions?

Signed,

Mavis Ann McGarry

[texasguy37 ACE - Expert]

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mermavis wrote:

I am outraged that AMC, IFC and WE TV (Rainbow Package) may no longer be available for the millions of viewers that enjoy and depend on the quality programming these networks offer.  If in fact you discontinue my ability to enjoy the programs offered I promise to discontinue my ATT cellular service and will boycott any ATT products.  Further, I will review my stock portfolio, should I have any holdings I will immediately sell them even at a loss.  I will switch my cable service to Satellite Television, even though I hate the look of the hideous dishes, but a small price to pay to take money out of your despicable pockets. 

In conclusion, I will be contacting my attorney, whom is on retainer, and I will sue you for taking the "Rainbow Package" off the air.  This was a package I explicitly asked for when ordering my cable service.  How dare you think you can simply remove these stations off the air without sufficient notice.  On Monday, I will make it my mission to contact every avenue I have at my disposal and put a stop to your despicable attempts to take these quality stations away from intelligent people such as myself.  Shame on you!!  Additionally, what is your motive behind your actions?

Signed,

Mavis Ann McGarry 

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Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!

You should be asking Rainbow Media what their motive is for their actions.

I did find your message highly entertaining. 

[texasguy37 ACE - Expert]

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GregH wrote:

So Texasguy...how long have you worked for ATT?   You're so obvious.  Tell your company to STFU and keep the channels we love.

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Should I ask how long you have worked for Rainbow Media?  Tell your bosses to negotiate in good faith.

Reading your previous messages, I see that accusations are your modus operandi.  Being a bully will not get you the programming that you desire.

[GregH_1]

I don't work for rainbow.  I just want to keep these channels.  I already do without the MLB network and now losing these 3 would be too much.  I'm a huge direct tv fan though...ATT is crazy to bring on all this negative pub. 

[texasguy37 ACE - Expert]

Good.  You don't work for Rainbow Media, and I don't work for AT&T.  See how easy that was?

[GregH_1]

My wife will go crazy if she can't watch Bridezillas and I want to watch Mad Men.  I spend 179.00 a month for TV + internet + another 65.00 for a hard line telephone.  I pay enough to demand the channels I can get from Direct TV

[gbh62]

These channels won't be going away.  ATT would be stupid to take them off.  They already know how many of their customers watch thse channels.  They probably know now how passionate these people are about them (I now do).  Personally, I don't think I've ever switched to any of these three channels so I could care less, but hey, I might check out Mad Men now...

The channels will stay.  Our monthly price will remain the same until the next rate hike.  At that point, ATT will recoup whatever was temporarily lost (and then some, most likely).

So, we will all end up paying higher prices in the future, and complaining about it.  Whatever... we are all pretty much numb to it by now.

What I don't fully understand is ATT's purpose behind publicizing this issue to it's customers.  Was is just to gauge a small sampling of their customer's anger over the prospect of eliminating these channels?  Hard to understand what the company can possibly gain from that.

[Ritz_1]

Well, this service has been so minimally responsive to me personally, that decisions like not pushing IFC and AMC to the head of the line of things to maintain will only serve to push me out of this arrangement.  I do not need nor did I bargain on the choice of selections;SCORES OF SPANISH LANGUAGE STATIONS, A HUNDRED SPORTS ORIENTED STATIONS, AND NOTHING BUT TALKING HEADS PROGRAMS AS AN EXCUSE FOR NEWS PROGRAMMING.  At night, the history channels are largely replaced by infomercial channels.  I was told I would receive some sort of programming guide when I signed on, but in nearly a year, I have yet to see such.  I have seen no new arts programming, and quality stations like Ovation seem unlikely to be added to your repertoire--in fact, I fullly expect to see the IFC and related networks of some quality being replaced by a Spanish language station dedicated to "Ernest's Summer Vacation" and "Pee Wee Herman's greatest hits."  You people deserve to be dropped by IFC and when you have lost this sort of quality programming, I will be happy to move on to other services.  The sad thing is the absence of any choice in selecting the channel offerings--I would gladly give up the spanish language trash, the sports networks, and eighty percent of the rest of your "offerings" for IFC and Ovation.  Think about who it is you are "fighting" for--your current way of doing business in no way represents my tastes or preferences. 

[dlw_1]

AMC IS MY HUSBANDS FAVORITE AND WE IS MY DAUGHTERS FAVORITE. A LOSE LIKE THAT IS TOO MUCH TO DEAL WITH.  SO NOT FAIR.  MY HUSBAND SAYS WE ARE GOING BACK TO COMCAST IF THIS HAPPENS SO PLEASE FIGHT AS HARD AS YOU CAN CUZ I KNOW ATT WOULDN'T WANT US TO DO THAT!

[Uniblurb3 ACE - Master]

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gbh62 wrote:

These channels won't be going away.  ATT would be stupid to take them off.  They already know how many of their customers watch these channels.  They probably know now how passionate these people are about them (I now do).  Personally, I don't think I've ever switched to any of these three channels so I could care less, but hey, I might check out Mad Men now...

The channels will stay.  Our monthly price will remain the same until the next rate hike.  At that point, ATT will recoup whatever was temporarily lost (and then some, most likely).

So, we will all end up paying higher prices in the future, and complaining about it.  Whatever... we are all pretty much numb to it by now.

What I don't fully understand is ATT's purpose behind publicizing this issue to it's customers.  Was is just to gauge a small sampling of their customer's anger over the prospect of eliminating these channels?  Hard to understand what the company can possibly gain from that.

---

Maybe they are just trying to give the customers fair warning these channels may be cancelled. Also they may want U-verse customers to try and pressure Rainbow Media into negotiating a lower price for their channels. This seems to be backfiring and as you said it is just bringing a sampling of angry customers to the surface. In turn Rainbow is trying to turn the U-verse customers against their own provider on their website. Guess this is just how large corporations play the game with the customers always caught in the middle.

I personally don't watch these channels and do not want to pay higher rates to keep them on U-verse. But for those that do want these channels let them fight for them because that is their right.

[unhappybirthday]

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gbh62 wrote:

What I don't fully understand is ATT's purpose behind publicizing this issue to it's customers.  Was is just to gauge a small sampling of their customer's anger over the prospect of eliminating these channels?  Hard to understand what the company can possibly gain from that.

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I suspect someone was deluded into thinking the customers would respond with "Thanks for fighting for me!" and "Rainbow Media is being unreasonable." You know, things that would strengthen their bargaining position, not weaken it.

[marcindublin]

This is a simple numbers game. If AT&T determines that it will lose more in subscribers than it could save in license fees, it will negotiate with Rainbow from a position of weakness. If it determines that losing IFC, WE and AMC would not materially harm its revenue, it will negotiate from a position of strength. It's also a numbers game for subscribers. If you determine that a service provides more of what you want at the same or a better price, you should switch, otherwise, you should stay.

Rainbow has a similar calculation to make. If they determine that they'll lose more from not having AT&T subs looking at their commercials, they'll negotiate from weakness. They are apparently calculating that the premiere of "Breaking Bad" will allow a negotiation from strength.

AT&T's "warning" is nothing more than negotiation tactic. They are letting Rainbow know that they are willing to let these channels go. They are also seeking to minimize the public relations fiasco is the channels go.

In any event, begging AT&T (or Rainbow)  seems to be unproductive. You might as well be arguing with a computer.

[rhaezorblue]

I like Uverse cable tv but Mad Men starts at the end of this month, it is my favorite show by far.  I really hope you guys can get a fair deal because if the deal falls through unfortunately I'll have to cancel my service, I NEED to watch Mad Men no matter which provider I have.  (it's on AMC and AMCHD)

Best of luck,

Jake and family

[lindajthomas1]

I keep getting notes on my screen that AT&T is getting rid of channels that is currently a part of the package I am paying for.  If this happens I will change service providers.  I purchased the package I currently pay for because of the channels offered.  If they no longer will provide service for the channels I want, I will find a service provider that do offer them.

[mrsglaw]

Is Att going to reduce our rate if we lose 3 of our favorite channels? I have a feeling this is an excuse to try to raise rate!

[bradfordpe]

ATT,

Don't drop these channels. In the words of Dire Strights, I want my AMC, IFC, & WE tv.

[paul416]

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mrsglaw wrote:

Is Att going to reduce our rate if we lose 3 of our favorite channels? I have a feeling this is an excuse to try to raise rate!

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That was one of my first thoughts. We can't get MLB Network for whatever ungodly reason and now they want to TAKE AWAY CHANNELS WE ALREADY HAVE???!!!  Either pony up the channels, reduce my bill by about 30 a month or BYE,BYE!

[luke_1]

To AT&T,

I don't feel sorry for you. You charge plenty, you make plenty off of me and everyone I know. If this happens, I will be cancelling all my services with you, including my internet and phone. I entered a contract agreement with you that I don't expect to be changed.

For those that complain about commercial interruptions, have you watched other channels lately? Try watching "Oprah". I counted two minutes between commercials the other day.

[texasguy37 ACE - Expert]

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paul416 wrote:

That was one of my first thoughts. We can't get MLB Network for whatever ungodly reason and now they want to TAKE AWAY CHANNELS WE ALREADY HAVE???!!!  Either pony up the channels, reduce my bill by about 30 a month or BYE,BYE!

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AT&T currently pays Rainbow Media approximately 50 cents per month per subscriber (i.e less than 2 cents per day) for all 3 channels combined.  Why should your bill be reduced by $30/month (i.e. $1 dollar per day) if these channels are no longer carried by U-verse?

[itsmettwo]

Man I really like that channel! Thats a bummer if we don't get it any more!

itsmettwo

[panella]

As a new subscriber (less than 2 months) to att u-verse I have to say that AMC is an important reason for having the att top tier bundle. My wife loves the AMC series "Mad Men" and the absence of AMC would have been a deciding factor in switching from our old cable to att instead of Direct TV or Dish Network.

Please remember that your customers signed up expecting att to honor their promises and obligations to deliver the stations and quality that motivated us to join in the first place. ATT's credibility will be greatly tarnished if they fail to provide scheduling as advertised. Please keep AMC.

[jpbriley]

If att drops these channel we will be cancelling our service and looking else where.........I'll not miss Madmen as I plan on it helping me thur chemo ths summer.     Come on ATT and rainbow network, sort out your stuff and give us what we want. A summer without Madmen.....say it ain't soooo/

[wayniac5]

i'VE BEEN DEBATING GOING INTERNET ONLY AND DROPPING TV ALTOGETHER  for months now.  There's nothing that i coundt just download or rent if I have to....  mostly i would be so much more productive if I went back to my old lifestlye of watching movies and dvd season collection.  Had a girlfriend movie in who wanted all these channels  so I got sucked into the BIG PACKAGE.....  Getting rid of the girlfriend this week anyhow,  so if ATT  drops IFC and AMC I guess its an easy choice to make.

[D_in_FL]

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mtn wrote:

Let them go and reduce my bill a couple of bucks. Heck even a dollar off equals a win.

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You are extremely naive if you think if AT&T doesn't come to an agreement with Rainbow that they will reduce your bill by a couple of bucks. This warning is actual a hint that if you want to keep these channels you are going to HAVE TO PAY a couple of bucks. Pure and simple.

[tennesseeroy]

I am thinking about going back to direct tv if att loses amc .

[tomtells]

I don't watch those channels anyway... too many commercials. Who wants to spend three hours watching a movie?

Just dump those channels and reduce our prices back to where they were when you signed us up less than a year ago.

[nyoung_1]

The real loss if ATT drops AMC? Customers! I hope they read this because dropping AMC will mean many, myself included, will change their service providers. I just switched to ATT 2 weeks ago expecting AMC as an important part of the line-up-now thats rather deceptive.

[CCMay]

I'll switch to Comcast if U-verse stops carrying AMC because Mad Men is one of the few quality television shows out there.  Somehow, I think AT&T can afford whatever "unreasonable demands" Rainbow Media is negotiating for.  Hello, AT&T is freaking HUGE!!!!!!!!!!  Multiple sources of revenue, dominant in many forms of telecommunication... PAY FOR IT or lose subscribers!!!

[vkm13]

For the first time, Im actually watching western movies! I never thought I would say that. I want to keep AMC, IFC and the WE channel. I love to see the breakdowns on the wedding shows. I hope we get to keep the channels.

[EJB]

I only watch 3 or 4 channels on U-verse and AMC is one of them. If I lose AMC I will  likely cancel my U-verse. t's to

bad we couldn''t pay a flat fee for the service and then  just pay for the channels we want..